Mine car coupling



Jul 28, 1936,; J. L. DAY 2,049,156

MINE CAR COUPLING Filed April 24, 1 934 2 Sheets-Sheet l Inventortlomey.

July 28,1936. L D Y 2,049,156

MINE CAR COUPLING I Filed April 24, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 InventorPatented July 28, 1936 UNITED STATE-S 2,049,156 MINE GAR COUPLING JohnL. Day, Keokee, Va. Application April 24,'1934,'Seria1 No. 722,182 1Claim. (01. 213490) tion is to provide a mine car coupling of thecharacter described embodying a novel construction, combination andarrangement of parts whereby the cars may be expeditiously disconnectedwhen desired without the necessity for the person performing theoperation getting between the cars or touching the coupling with hishands.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a mine car coupling of thecharacter set forth which will be comparatively simple in construction,strong, durable, highly efficient and reliable in use, compact and whichmay be manufactured and installed at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of theinvention will become apparent from a study of the followingspecification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawingswherein like characters of reference designate corresponding partsthroughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a mine car coupling constructedin accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a view in top plan thereof.

Figure 3 is a detail view in perspective of the crank lever through themedium of which the cars are uncoupled.

Figure 4 is a view in vertical longitudinal section, taken substantiallyon the line 44 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view, taken substantially on the line5-5 of Figure 4.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that thereference numeral I designates the adjacent end portions of a pair ofconventional mine cars. The embodiment of the present invention whichhas been illustrated comprises a pair of substantially segmental bumpers2 and 3 which are rigidly secured to the cars l, as at 4. As best seenin Figure 2 of the drawings, the peripheries of the substantiallysegmental bumpers 2 and 3 are opposed to each other.

Rigidly secured, as by bolts 5, on top of the bumper 2 is a block 6. Theopposed faces of the block 6 and the bumper 2 have formed thereinrecesses which define a chamber 1, Figure 4, thru which a comparativelylarge vertical bolt 8 passes.

The chamber 1 is for the reception of an elon- 5 gated coupling link 9through which the bolt 8 also passes. The reference numeral l0designates coil springs which are mounted in sockets II providedtherefor between the block 6 and the bumper 2 and which project into thechamber 1 10 for engagement with the link 9 for yieldingly maintainingsaid link 9 in a longitudinally projecting position, as best seen inFigure 5 of the drawings.

By comparison of Figures 4 and 5 it will be end portion of the link 9are adapted to yieldingly maintain said link in and tend to return it tothe position shown in Figure 5.

The above will be better understood when it is stated that on lateralswinging of the link 9 in either direction, the spring l0 against whichthe link is swung will be compressed and tensioned, and then on releaseof the link the expansion of the said spring I0 will move the link backto the position shown in Figure 5. This operation will take place whenthe link 9 is arranged relatively to the spring It] as shown in Figure5.

A block I2 is rigidly secured on the bumper 3 by bolts I 3. The block [2and the bumper 3 are formed to provide a throat It for the reception ofthe coupling link 9. The block I2 is further provided with a chamber ISwith which a slot l6 communicates. A substantially V-shaped latch I1 isoperable in the chamber [5, a pivot pin I8 passing through the free endportion of one of the legs of said latch. As illustrated to advantage inFigure 4 of the drawings, the latch I! is engageable in the link 9 forretaining said link in the throat H4. The bumper 3 is formed to providea shoulder l9 with which the latch I1 is engaged when in operativeposition.

The reference numeral 29 designates a crank lever which is journaled inbearings 2! on the end of the car I which carries the bumper 3. The

inner end of the crank lever 29 is connected by a chain 22 to the freeend of the substantially V-shaped latch I! which projects upwardlythrough the slot Hi.

It is believed that the operation of the coupling will be readilyapparent. When the cars are brought together the link 9 which, ashereinbefore stated, is yieldingly maintained in a longitudinal positionby the coil springs I0, enters the throat l4 and raises the latch H, theconstruction and arrangement of said latch I! being such as tofacilitate this operation. As soon as the adjacent end portion of thelink 9 passes the latch ll said latch l1 drops by gravity through thelink and into engagement with the shoulder l9 and the couplingoperationis thus completed. To uncouple the cars the crank lever 20 ismanually actuated in a manner to raise the latch l1 and permitwithdrawal of the coupling link 9 The rounded or substantially segmentalbumpers 2 and 3 facilitate passage of the cars-cariound acute curves. Itis believed that the many advantages of mine car coupling constructed inaccordance'with the present invention will be readily understood,

understood that changes in the details of construction and in thecombination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to which will fallwithin the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:-

In combination, a car coupling member having a chamber open at one sidethereof and also having sockets the inner ends of which communicate withthe chamber at opposite points, link..retaining means intersecting -said.chamber at a point midway between said socket ends, an open linkreceiving said link retaining means 1 and movable laterally in saidchamber and held against vertical deflection by the upper and lowerwalls thbreof and projecting from the coupling member tosbe engaged andheld by a complementary coupling member, and springs housed .idiandzproje'ctingairom said sockets and bearing against opposite sides of theinner end portion of the link.

